All Inclusive Resorts With Top Sustainability Programs

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sun May 17, 2026

All-inclusive resorts with top sustainability programs are redefining luxury travel by combining comfort with environmental responsibility.

Sustainability is the idea of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs —a concept formalized in the United Nations’s Brundtland Report.

But what factors play into being considered ‘sustainable?’

For travel and resorts, sustainability means more than just ‘being green.’ It includes sourcing food locally, minimizing energy use and waste, conserving water, reducing pollution, protecting ecosystems, contributing positively to the surrounding community and earning independent certifications.

Let’s look at some ways all-inclusive resorts around the world are prioritizing sustainability.

Sandos Hotels & Resorts, Mexico

Sandos Caracol is the flagship for sustainability within the portfolio, built around the Riviera Maya’s natural jungle and cenote systems rather than replacing them. It has been repeatedly Rainforest Alliance certified and Travelife Gold certified, signaling strong environmental and social practices.

Guests can participate in eco-activities like wildlife tours, tree planting initiatives, cenote conservation, cultural experiences with local Maya communities, and learn about responsible travel firsthand. The resort has also been recognized with industry awards for its green hospitality efforts.

While Sandos Playacar is known as a beachside all-inclusive favorite, it also shares in Sandos’ sustainability framework, including Rainforest Alliance and Travelife Gold certifications, participating in waste reduction, recycling, and guest-oriented eco programs alongside the rest of the brand.

Set in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, Sandos Cancun is Rainforest Alliance certified resort. Sustainability includes responsible resource management and opportunities for guests to engage in eco-aware activities during their stay.

Sandos Finisterra Los Cabos property has also achieved Rainforest Alliance certification. Along with social sustainability commitments through the Sandos Foundation and environmental protocols on energy, waste, and community engagement, Finisterra reflects how all Sandos’ Mexico properties are aligned with broader sustainable tourism principles.

Hilton Cancun

Hilton Cancun is uniquely set between a protected coastal mangrove ecosystem and the Mayan shoreline, offering guests an immersive experience in one of Mexico’s most biodiverse regions. The resort operates harmoniously with its surroundings, featuring more than 50 wildlife crossings and tunnel systems that allow native species, including turtles and crocodiles, to move safely through the area. Seawater desalination and the innovative reuse of treated wastewater help reduce environmental impact while nourishing nearby mangroves.

Through Hilton’s LightStay program, the property tracks energy, water, waste, and carbon emissions, including meetings and events. With dedicated leadership guiding ecosystem preservation and creative initiatives like repurposing collected seaweed into nutrient-rich resources, Hilton Cancun exemplifies responsible, forward-thinking hospitality.

Journey Beyond’s Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef

Sustainability is a priority at Sal Salis, with 16 eco-luxury safari tents designed for minimal impact, just meters from the largest fringing reef in the world. It’s luxury as nature intended, with the brand's 'eco-luxury' namesake meaning that guests can enjoy all the key comforts of an all-inclusive while, leaving barely a footprint in the sand behind.

Constructed above ground to protect the flora, fauna and sand hills, and equipped with boardwalks to prevent soil erosion, Sal Salis is committed to protecting the prolific beauty of the Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range Peninsula.

The resort operates under a lease agreement with Western Australia’s Parks and Wildlife Service. In addition to park entrance fees, five percent of the resort’s turnover goes to Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Parks and Wildlife Service to assist in their conservation work directly in the Cape Range National Park. Additionally, Sal Salis is closed from mid-November to mid-March to allow for the region to fully recover following the heavy tourist season.

Fairmont Mayakoba

This all-inclusive optional resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico is considered one of the stronger sustainability-focused resort developments in Mexico in a region where many resorts historically destroy local ecosystems.

Fairmont Mayakoba’s development was designed to protect mangroves, lagoons and jungle habitats. During construction, thousands of trees were relocated instead of cleared. Mangroves are activity preserved because they act as natural water filters and biodiversity. Water recycling systems reuse treated wastewater for irrigation, energy use is monitored and optimized with efficiency tech and waste is sorted, recycled and composed on site. The resort’s certifications include Green Key, Distintivo S (Mexico’s sustainability certification), and Preferred by Nature.

Turtle Island, Fiji

This South Pacific resort with only 14 villas on the entire island is often held up as a model of ‘regenerative luxury.’ The property runs on solar energy, composts food waste, and produces much of its own food.

One of the most impressive parts of Turtle Island’s story is that the island was ecologically damaged before the resort even existed. But thanks to long-term reforestation, over 5,000 trees have been planted to restore native forest, rebuilding biodiversity, preventing soil erosion and recreating natural habitats for native wildlife. An active sea turtle conservation program works in partnership with the World Wildlife Foundation.

Most of the food is grown on the island utilizing fruit trees and hydroponic gardens. Local fishing assists in self-sustenance. Building is done with local materials and reclaimed wood, drastically reducing the environmental footprint compared to typical all-inclusive resorts.

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